This document provides information on creating a personal heat action plan. It explains that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe in Australia. Everyone can be vulnerable to heat-related illness, especially children, older adults, and those with medical conditions. However, heat illness is preventable by taking steps tailored to an individual's lifestyle and health factors. The document guides the reader through creating a personal heat action plan using a checklist and chapters on different at-risk groups and activities. It aims to help people stay healthy during heatwaves by understanding their personal risks and how to prepare.

1. Create Your Personal
HEAT ACTION PLAN
How Vulnerable are you to heat?
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2. Introduction
Why you need a Personal Heat Action Plan
Heat is a part of life in Australia. One of the best things about this country has
Always been that good old summer sunshine. People move here from all over
the world for its glorious sun and outdoor lifestyle.
Australians are usually expert at handling temperatures that would cause
others much more stress. So it can be easy to underestimate the dangers of
heat when you have lived with it, and enjoyed it, all your life.
But in recent years Australia has experienced unprecedented temperature
extremes and it is undeniable that these new temperatures are starting to
affect life in new ways, changing lifestyles, changing our thinking about heat.
Heatwaves are getting hotter and more frequent, and they are lasting longer.
The number of hot days has more than doubled since the 1960s. Over the
past two years, temperatures in Australia have risen faster than in any other
G20 country. The extended heatwave in early 2013 affected 70% of Australia
and set new temperature records in every state and territory. I am sure you
are aware that there are now two new colours on the temperature scale used
by the Bureau of Meteorology, deep purple and pink. They represent the two
2-degree bands above 50º C, four additional degrees in total, that were added
to the scale to represent this new reality.
People of all ages and levels of fitness can experience serious heat-related
illness. And young children and older adults are especially vulnerable. I am
sure you know that heat stroke can kill or cause life-long disability. But did you
know that, tragically, heatwaves are now responsible for the deaths of more
people than any other natural hazard experienced in Australia.
Nobody wants to risk their health by underestimating the potential dangers of
heat. But there are many ways in which things you love doing for pleasure, or
need to do for your job, could be more risky during a heatwave. You and your
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3. family need information so you can prepare yourselves to face extreme
temperatures on a much more regular basis.
Here is the good news. Heat-related illness is largely preventable. So you
can take steps to protect yourself and your family if you know how.
First of all, in order to stay well in a heatwave, you need up-to-date
information on heat health. You can find a huge amount of public health
information about heatwaves on the internet. But this information is of a
general nature only, and it is scattered over many websites. Each site typically
offers only a few pieces of the complex puzzle that is human health in
extreme heat. So, despite the great amount of information you can access on
the internet, three key questions may stay, at least partly, unanswered:
How does general public health information apply to you personally, as
A unique individual leading a complex life?
What are the aspects of heat health you need to pay most attention to?
Have you overlooked something important?
You need to be able to see the full picture of the puzzle and to find your
personal answers to these questions. You need to know how to translate
general information into preventive action that is tailored to you and your
personal life circumstances. You need to know how you, and each member of
your family, may be vulnerable to extreme heat and which particular steps you
can take to protect each person. In other words, you need to know how to
create your Personal Heat Action Plan.
How this book helps you to create your Personal Heat Action Plan
This e-book is a how-to guide to staying healthy in a heatwave. It guides you
through the process of finding your personal answers to the questions you
may have. It teaches you how to create a Personal Heat Action Plan that is
tailored to your and your family members’ lifestyle, health status, and potential
risk factors.
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4. The e-book is a manual for staying healthy in a heatwave and gives you a
Whole toolkit to work with:
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A detailed checklist with questionnaire guiding you step-by-step
through the process of creating your Personal Heat Action Plan.
Thirteen chapters on different aspects of heat health and how to apply
This knowledge effectively in your life.
Individual chapters on heat health for young children, pregnant women,
Olderpeople and those living with chronic illness.
Chapters on how to stay well playing sports and leading an active
Lifestyle during heatwaves.
Detailed symptoms of the different types of heat-related illness.
First aid that can be given by somebody without medical training.
High quality information in accessible, non-medical language.
Information particularly relevant to Australians.
Key points for each chapter.
A source list of heat health websites published by official organisations
And governmental bodies. These sites were carefully reviewed and
Selected to cover the key topics.
Information about mobile apps for your smartphone and tablet PC that
Can help you stay healthy in a heatwave.
This book was written by Dr. Chris S. Nagl PhD who is an internationally
recognised biomedical scientist working on global health challenges of the
21st century. Dr. Nagl has held appointments at world-leading universities for
more than fifteen years.
Chris has a particular interest in how people can protect their health and
wellbeing in our warming climate. Chris therefore decided to write this
practical e-guide on how you can create your Personal Heat Action Plan.
TableofContents
Introduction
Why you need a Personal Heat Action Plan and how this book helps you to
create one
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5. Checklist for your Personal Heat Action Plan
Fundamentals
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Stay well hydrated in daily life
Look after your skin and eyes
Recognize the danger symptoms of heat-related illness
Learn the basics of first aid in a heat stress emergency
Reduce exposure to bushfire smoke
Life stages
 Take care of yourself in the heat if you are pregnant or nursing
 Keep kids safe from heat stress
 Stay healthy in the heat if you are older
Managing medical risk factors
 Check for medical risk factors
 Learn about medical drugs that can make you more vulnerable to heat
 Stay well in a heatwave with diabetes or cardiovascular illness
Outdoor living
 Keep your cool at outdoor sports and games
 Create a heat-savvy outdoor lifestyle
 In concluding
Notes and Sources : Climatefitness.org
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